Brief history of Central Bohemia

The Slavs settled this area sometime
in the beginning of the 6th century and
created several administrative centres here
(Roztoky u Prahy, Budeč, Levý Hradec,
Šárka, and the area of today’s Malá
Strana in Prague).

Central Bohemia and the Přemyslids

An important event for
the development of the region (and the
entire Czech nation) was the adoption
of Christianity in the 9th century by the
Přemyslid princes and the (rather violent)
unification of the country under their rule.
From that point, the importance of Prague
as the centre of power in Bohemia increased
rapidly. The Přemyslids built a fortified
settlement on the rock promontory above
the Vltava River, which expanded over the
centuries into a magnificent residence for
the nation’s rulers. Prague Castle fulfils
this role to this very day.

A city grew around the castle, one
supposedly marked by extraordinary
lavishness and richness as early as the
10th century. By 1306, when the Přemyslid
line was terminated by the sword, the
Bohemian landscape, even beyond Central
Bohemia, had changed beyond recognition
– hundreds of cities, towns, villages,
castles, fortresses, and monasteries had
emerged. Most of them are responsible
for the character of the distribution of the
country’s population even today.

Central Bohemia under the reign of the Luxembourgs

The glory and power of the Přemyslid
rulers was significantly influenced by rich
silver deposits around Kutná Hora from
the mid 12th century. The power of other
noble families also increased, however, and
they built their own fortified residences.
This period of prosperity continued
throughout the entire 14th century under
the reign of the Luxembourgs, especially
due to Charles IV, the “Father of the
Nation” (1316-1378). The following period
in the 15th century brought the Czechs
one particular primacy – Jan Hus was
more than a hundred years ahead of the
European Reformation with his teachings.
This cost him his life, however, and our
country was cast into long decades of war,
general chaos, decline, and deprivation.

The ascension of the Habsburgs

The ascension of the Habsburgs (1526)
opened the door to the Renaissance,
which is mostly visible in the
country’s architecture. The impregnable
and cold castles of the aristocracy slowly
made way for comfortable chateaus
surrounded by gardens. Trade and crafts
developed, and the middle class grew in
power. Under the reign of the art-loving
Rudolf II (1552-1612), Prague managed
to experience one of the highlights of
its period of prosperity. This was also
supported by Rudolf’s Letter of Majesty
which guaranteed religious tolerance. The
ruler’s death ended this reconciliation,
however, and the succeeding Habsburgs
increased their efforts to centralize,
counter-reform, and recatholicize the
Bohemian Lands. This met with resistance
among the Protestant Czech noble class,
leading to a dispute which culminated in
the defeat of the Czechs in the Battle of
White Mountain (1620) and the bloody
vengeance of Ferdinand II with the Old
Town execution of 27 insurgents on
21 June 1621. The result was a Europeanwide
conflict that lasted a long 30 years
(1618-1648). Prague and Bohemia were
especially affected by these events – the
population dropped by a half, and members
of the aristocracy, intelligence, and middle
class who did not accept the Catholic faith
were forced to leave the country.

Central Bohemia in the Baroque

All the same, the Counter-Reformation
and Recatholization did bring the
Baroque to Bohemia, leaving us with
many architectural treasures (Cathedral
of St. Nicholas in Prague, sculptures on
Charles Bridge, Santini’s Church of the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Kutná
Hora – Sedlec in Baroque-Gothic style,
etc.).

National cultural revival in Central Bohemia

The following 18th century was marked
by a national cultural revival as
a response to the increasingly strong
efforts to Germanize the Czech nation. The
population continued to divide into Czech
and German nationalist camps, however,
which later reached a tragic climax.

Central Bohemia in the 20th century

The 19th century can be characterized
by efforts to restore Czech political
rights. The end of the First World
War in 1918 finally brought freedom and
independence to the Czech nation and was
the definitive end of the Austro-Hungarian
monarchy. The following period of the
free first republic lasted only a short
time. The Munich Agreement of 1938
was seen as a great betrayal, and cost
Czechoslovakia a large part of her borders,
later to be completely occupied by Nazi
Germany. Freedom was gained shortly
after the Soviet and US military liberations
in May of 1945, but this did not last long.

The coup in 1948 brought the
Communist Party to power, then
hopes for better times at the end of
the 1960’s were obliterated by the
occupation of Czechoslovakia by the
armies of the Warsaw Pact. Democracy in
Czechoslovakia finally emerged victorious
in November of 1989. In 1993, after 75
years of co-existence as a single nation, the
Czechs and Slovaks parted ways.